Newport man pleads not guilty to attack with foot-long flashlight at Cumberland Farms

NEWPORT — A 20-year-old man who recently moved to Newport from Las Vegas was in court this week to answer to assault charges after police say he hit another man in the head with a large flashlight outside Cumberland Farms in Newport.

Nicholas Lantagne has been charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and aggravated assault following the incident, which took place on April 10, 2017, on East Main Street in Newport.

According to an affidavit filed by Officer Royce Lancaster, Lantagne used a foot-long flashlight as a weapon, striking 22-year-old Sabastian Cehura in the head.

The blow left Cehura requiring medical attention to close the wound, which was over one inch long. He was treated at North Country Hospital for his injuries.

Police say at around 12:00 p.m. that day, Cehura was headed to the gas pump when Lantagne approached him and cracked him in the head with a heavy flashlight.

A 21-year-old passenger in Cehura’s car witnessed the attack, and both told police that they knew Lantagne before the attack.

Lantagne pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on $10,000 bond.